ENZYMATIC DETERMINATION OF METHANOL WITH ALCOHOL OXIDASE, PEROXIDASE,AND THE CHROMOGEN 2,2'-AZINOBIS(3-ETHYLBENZTHIAZOLINE-6-SULFONIC ACID) AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE METHYL-ESTER CONTENTOF PECTINS

A method for the determination of methanol using alcohol oxidase, pero xidase, and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS ) was developed. The procedure, which uses alcohol oxidase, is advanta geous over other photometric procedures in that a subsequent reduction step is eliminated. The use of peroxidase and ABTS offers the further advantage of sensitive detection of the formed hydrogen peroxide. The sensitivity of the assay is 0.05-1.0 mu g/(mL of methanol). Moreover, the procedure is very rapid. The methyl ester content in a sample of pectin was determined from the methanol liberated upon its alkaline hy drolysis.